Clothesrack



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M. J. BROWN GLoTHEsRAcK Filed Oct. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WINX :1L:

INK/EN TOR Patented Oct. 8, 1935 tJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be stored in a comparatively limited space and which avoids the unsightly appearance of the ordinary clothes rack when not in use.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that in the solution of manufacturing problems arising from the use of either metal castings or stampings, or both such castings and stampings, various changes in the proportion, size, and number of parts and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any oi the advantages of the invention.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specications: Fig. 1 represents a side View of a clothes rack constructed in accordance with this invention with end covers removed and Awith all legs and one arm in their extended positions. Fig. 2 represents a perspective View of the invention with all arms and all legs retracted and with the end covers in place. Fig. 3 represents a side View of a leg. Fig. 4 represents an end view of a leg. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the ieg fixture. Fig. 6 represents a top View of the leg fixture. Fig. 7 represents a view of a vertical` section of the leg fixture on the line Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a View sho-wing the operation of a leg and its accessories in relation tothe elements of the leg fixture. Fig, 9 represents a side view oi the arm fixture. Fig. l represents a top View or" the arm xture. Fig. 11 represents avertical section of the arm fixture on the line z-z, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents a view showing the operation of an arm and its accessories in relation to the elements of the arm xture. Fig. 13 represents a side View of an arm. Fig. 14 represents an end View of an arm.

i rThe same reference characters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

The invention consists mainly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of a tube 5 having removable end covers and divided transversely into two chambers c` and 5d by a disc 5b suitably xed inside said tube, a series of legs l-l, Fig. l, slidable and movable to an oblique position in a circular leg fixture 2 suitably fixedin the open end of the chamber 5c, and a series of arms @-4 slidable and swingable to a perpendicular position in a 'circular arm iiX- ture suitably xed in the open end of chamber 5d.

The tube 5, Fig. 2, has removable end covers Erz-5a and is divided transversely into two chambers 5c and 5d, Fig. l, by a disc 5b suitably fixed inside said tube. The circular leg iiXture 2, Fig. l securely iizred in the open end o the chamber Ec from which it projects somewhat, is, in the present instance, cast integrally but may be built up from stampings and is considered as composed of a triangular center block 2l, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, a band 22, and a series of guide plates 23-23. The

plane of the upper edge of the band E2, Fig. 6, 1 0

is coincidental with the plane `of the upper end of the center block 2i, the center of said band being axially coincidental with the center of said center block. The guide plates 23-23`, Figs. 5, 6,

and 7, each having a curved lower edge and a substantially V shaped slot opening upwardly, are so arranged in relation to each other and to the center block 2l, Fig. 6, and the band alias to form, in conjunction with said center block and said band, a series of rectangular passages 2li-24, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, in which legs l-l, Fig. l, are slidable and, at the limit of protractive travel, swingable outwardly to an oblique position. The leg, Figs. 3 and 4, has a bevel I6 with a rounded lower margin l1 at its inner end, stop pins 'l5-E 5 near said bevel adapted to engage V shaped slots 25-25, Figs. 5, 7, and S, and limit protractive and oblique movement of said leg, and a position retaining spring I8, Fig. 3, having a bent free end adapted to contact center bloclr` 2l, Fig. 8, and 30 hold said leg in oblique position if the device is raised from the iioor for change of position or for any other reason. The protractive and the oblique movements of the leg I are illustrated in Fig. 8, together with the manner in which pro- 35 tractive and oblique movements of said leg are checked by stop pins l5-l5 and contacts of said leg with center block 2l and the under edge of band 22, and the operation of the position retaining-spring I8. The 'circular arm fixture 3, Fig. 1, 40

suitably fixed in the open end of the chamber 5d from which it projects somewhat, is, in the present instance, cast ,integrally but may be built up from stampings and is considered as composed of a center plate 3l, Figs. 9, 10, and 11, a band t2, 45

and a series of guide blocks 33-33, each oi said guide blocks lhaving an outer face of a bell-like contour and having a triangular inner portion, extending downwardly between the passages 3&3-

35, Figs. l0 and 11, with its outer edge forming 50 the inner boundary of the-V shaped slot 35, Fig. 11 and supplying the inner guide for stop pins on arm members, Fig. 12, and with its sides supplying additional guiding surfaces for the arm members, 4 4, Fig. 1, and preventing side swing 55 band 32.

of said arm members and consequent interference of their inner endsV and stop pins thereon one with another. The plane of the upper edge of the band 32, Fig. l1, is substantially the width of the arm 4, Fig. l, beneath the plane of the under side of the center plate 3l, Fig. l1, the centers of said center plate and said band being axially coincidental, and the said band having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of Ysaid center plate plus twice the width of said arm. The guide blocks 33-33, Figs. 10 and 11, are so arranged in relation to each other and to the center plate 3l and the band 32 as to form, in conjunction therewith, a series of two-way rectangular passages 34.-34 in which arms 4 4, Fig. l, are slidable and, at the limit of protractive travel, swingable outwardly to a position perpendicular to the tube 5. The arm, Figs. 13 and 14, is provided with stop pins l9-l9 near its inner end adapted to'engage V shaped slots 35-35, Figs.r1l and l2, and arrest protractive travel of said arm, provide a pivot on which said arm may be swung, and prevent its perpendicular movement. rlhe manner of the travell of the arms fl-d, Fig. l, is illustrated in Fig. l2, together with the manner in which perpendicular movement of Y said arms is prevented by stop pins l 9-1 il at the tops of V shaped slots iid-35, and the manner in which said arms are supported in a perpendicular position through 'contacts with the Linder side of center plate 3| and the upper edge of Additional arms may be provided for by reducing the width and increasing the number of the guide blocks 35i- 33, Fig'. 10. Y

The device having been properly assembled and with all legs and arms in retracted position and the end Vcovers in place as in Fig. 2, its operation is as follows: The end cover of the chamber 5c is first removed and the legs Fig. 1, are withdrawn from said chamber to a point at which the stop pins I5-l5, Figs. 1 and 8, are at the Ybottom of V shaped slots 25-25, then swung outwardly to an oblique position in which position each leg is retained through contact of the bent free end of its position retaining spring I8, Fig. 8, with the center block 2l. Depression of a position retaining spring will permit reciprocal movement of the leg to which it is attached, Fig. 8. The legs l-l, Fig. 1, being in full extended plosition are .now placed on a floor, or other suitable surface, the tube 5 being supported in an upright position. The end cover is then removed from the chamber 5d, Fig. 2, and the arms 1 -4, Fig. l, withdrawn from said chamber to a point at which the stop pins 9i-l 9, Figs. 1 and 12, are at the tops of V shaped slots 35-35 and swung outwardly down to a horizontal position. All movements of said legs and said arms being reciprocative said legs and arms may be returned to their Yproper chambers and the said end covers replaced, as in Fig. 2.

Having thus particularly illustrated and described my invention and the manner of its use,

I claim:

l. in a clothes rack having a tubular standard,

a supporting device iixable in the lower end of l said tube and projecting somewhat therefrom,

`comprising a circular leg holder' consisting oi a center block, a band, and a series of guide plates, each of said guide plates having a curved lower as to form, in conjunction with said center block 5 and saidY band, a series of rectangular passages, and a series of legs slidable in said passages and swingable, at their limit of protractive travel, outwardly to an oblique position, said legs having beveled inner ends with rounded lower edges, stop 10 pins near said inner ends adapted to function in said V shaped slots in said guide plates and limit protractive travel and oblique movement of said legs, and position retaining springs having bent free ends adapted to contact said center block l5 when said legs are in extended oblique position.

2. A clothes rack comprising a tube having removable end covers and divided transversely into two chambers by a disc suitably xed inside said tube, a circular legfixture fastened inthe outer 2O end of one of said chambers and projecting somewhat therefrom, consisting of a center block, a band, and a series of guide plates, each of said guide plates having a curved lower edge and a substantially V shaped slot opening upwardly,v 25 said guide plates being so arranged in relation to each other and to the said center block and the said band and so connected thereto as to form, in conjunction therewith, a series of rectangular passages, a series of legs slidable in said passages 30 and, at the limit of protractive travel, swingable outwardly to an oblique position, said legs having beveled inner ends with rounded lower edges, stop pins adapted to engage V shaped slots in guide plates and limit protractive and oblique 35 movement of said legs, and position retaining springs having bent free ends adapted to contact said center block when said legs are in extended oblique position, a circular arm xture fastened in the outer end of the other of said chambers 40 and projecting somewhat therefrom, consisting of a center'plate, a band, and a series of guide blocks, each of said guide blocks having the upper portion of its outer face bell-like in contour and having a substantially V shaped slot opening 45 downwardly, said guide blocks being so arranged in relation to each other and to the said center plate and the said band and so connected thereto as to form, in conjunction therewith, a series of two-way rectangular passages, and a series of 50 arms slidable in said passages and swingable, at the limit of protractive travel, outwardly to a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tube, said arms having stop pins adjacent to their inner ends adapted to engage V shaped 55 slots in guide blocks and limit protractive travel and prevent perpendicular movement of said arms. Y

3. In combination in a clothes rack, a tubular standard, a circular leg fixture secured in one end 60 

